Tunneling apparatus.



110.847,801. PATENTED MAR. 19, 1907.

1'. A. MOFFITT. TUNNELING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1905. RENEWED SEPT. 4, 1906.

@SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 847,301. PATENTED MAR. 19, 1907.

F. A'. MOPFIT'I". TUNNBLING APPARA'IUS.v

APPLmATIoN FILED MAY 24, 1905. BBNBWED SEPT. 4. 190e. A

' e SHEETS-SHEET a` P. A. MOPPITT.

TUNNELING APPARATUS. l@PPLIoAtrIoN FILED Mn 24, 1905. Bmmwsn SEPT. 4, 190e.

i' n' u [NVE/vraie` /Mf A llomeyd.

PATENTBD MAR. 19, 1907.

No. 847,801. PATENTBD MAR.' 19, 19o?.

'11. A. MOPFIIT. TUNNELINGAPPAEATUS.

.AIPPILIOATION FILED MAY 24, 1905. BBNEWED SEPT. 4, 1906.

lllllllll y i o .5,

` V [Nl/ENTOR Alforneyd No. 847,801. y PATENTED MAR. 19, 1907.

' F. A. M'GFFTT.

TUNNBLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1905. RENEWED SEPT. 4, 1906. I

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

NVE/VTOR 10.847.80'1. PATENTED MAR. 19, 1907.

' P. A. MOFPITT.

TUNNBLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24,-1905. RENBWED SEPT. 4, 1906.

' '6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

INV/SAITO@j 'Sfllorneyl, i

UNITED STATES FRANK A. Morrrrr, oF oHIoAGo, ILLINOIS.

i TUNNELING APEAEATUS. f

Specification; of Letters Patent.

PATENT oEEIoE.

'Patented March 19,1907- Applieatlon filed May 24, 19.05. Renewed September 4, 1906. Serial No. 338,096. 'i' y purpose. l

lt consists inthe various features and combinations hereinafter described and more particularly claimed.

Reference'is to be had to the accompanying drawings,iorming a part of this specifical tion, in which similar characters of reference .indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a transverse section through a tunnel, showing. one embodiment of my inventionoperating therein. Fig. 2 isa central longitudinal vertical section through the apparatus.` Fig. 3` is a top lan view of the feed mechanism and more e osely associated parts. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional detail on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the boring-frame ooking'from 'the rear.- frame. F ig. 7' shows the-conveyer mechanism in top plan View. Fig. 8 is a side eleva- -tion thereof. Fig. 9 is an 'enlarged detail, in

side elevation, of'. the gearing connecting the counter-shaft of the boring mechanism withA the 'conveyor mechanism. Fig. 10 is a detail oi the same parts' in end elevation..

.- Figs. 11 and 12show in erspeetivetwo posuitable intervals, ninety degrees.

` lower inclined or diagona sritions oi the eonveyer-i ights; and Figs. 13

and 14 are sectional details of the boringhead and its more closely associated elements on the line 13 13 and 14 14 o fFigs. 14 and 13, respectively.

The numeral 1() designatesA a Shield, which may be ofthe usual tubular form, having eX- tending longitudinally along :its inner Wall tracks 11 11, situated nearthe lower portion of the shield, and tracks 1.] 11a at the upper portion, these tracks being separatedv by preferably substantially Within the shield is a boring-frame comprising end portions, which are shown as generally X-shaped, each having members 12 12 and upper-inclined members 13 13. The

lower members are connected by cross-bars 14, which are extended at one 'side oi' each frame at'15and by plates 16, rising abo vethe Fig. 6 isa broken side elevation of saidl tions of the frame. These inclined frame members, if extended, would intersect one another; butthe point of intersection of the cross-bars at opposite sides of theend por: f

lower members instead of being at'the axis of the shield is at a point above said axis," this giving a'greater space between the members .12 12 to receive the conveying mechanism, which will be hereinafter described. Near their outer ends the inclined vmembers of the end portions are connected' by beams 1'7, ex-y tending substantially parallel to the "shield, and by diagonal beams or stays 18,. joining the juncture of the members 12 with the connecting-beam 17 and with the similar .'junctures of the members 13 of the'opposite end portion. The cross-bars 14' are shown as joined by longitudinal beams 1S, and the outer ends of the cross-bars maybe stayed by vertical members 18'), which terminate in .the inclined members above and below said cross-bars. All thesemembers, beams, and stays may be connected from channel-irons or like material, they being illustrated as consisting-ot separated elements joined at suitable points, thus securing.` lightness and strength. Between thesev elements at the" outer ends of the inclined members 12 and 1'3 blocks 19 are mounted to slide and cari-v at their outer sides forks 20, L naled wheels 21, having the tracks. Y

From the' oppositeA sides vof the blocks threaded rods or stems 22 project inwardly between the elements of' theinclined members, they passing through. openings in separated plates 23 23,1ixed to saidmembers. Between these plates and the threads of the stem are nuts 24, which are shown as provided with peripheral openings to receive a' suitable wrenchl or bar, this facilitating theturnin g of the nuts, thus moving the wheels toward and from the tracks to eii'ect proper engagement. The tracks 11 are toothed or in the form of racks, and the cooperating wheels have similar teethsituated between their flanges. The axles of the rear wheels have fast upon them ratchetwheels 25, with which coact ratchet-leversv flanges overlapping 25a. By oscillating these levers the rear, I

wheels are rotated, and the engagement of in which are jour.

cooperating with l IOO their teeth with-*the track-teethserves to adl vance or withdraw .the boring-frame in the shield. lPivoted upon .the lower extremity l of each of the rear members 12, justvabove tracks, are dogs 25h, which when swung down the;

.from-this way into the head opens a central recess 82. Mounted to slide in the way is 'a boring-bar `33, which has fast upon its outer `ends of the-bar by arms 36, engaging it and y side a plate 34, which extends beyond the sides o the head-arms and has flanges overlapping them. Supported near the outer the plate, are .cutters 37, having forward operatmg edges, from which extend inwardly\ and rearwardly curved portions 38 to deflect the material removed by the cutting edges toward the center of the shield', the plate and its flanges preventing this from the way in which the bar slides. The dis,- tance between the cutters is preferably greater than the radius of the shield, so that they may'operate from a circumference just outside the shield to one in proximity to the center. The space between them which could not be covered by their transverse movement is operated upon by a cutter 39,' having a shank 4() fixed to one side of the 4head just Within the. plate-flange and furnished at its forward end with oppositelyprojecting blades 41 41. To the inner side of the boring-bar is secured a rack 42, with which meshes a pinion 43, fast upon a shaft 44, extending transversely of the head and being situated within the recess 32. This shaft has also secured upon it abevel-gear 45, which meshes with a similar gear 46, fixed to the extremity of a shaft 46, which extends through the shaft 27, it being journaled at the ends thereof. j This shaft 46 is rotatable in opposite directions by mechanism which will be later described,

The boring-shaft is rotated to produce the cut by a motor 47, preferably electric, suported upon a platform 48, which is carried by the beams 18a. The weight of this motor,

vsituated considerably at one side of the axis,

serves to counterbalance the thrust of the cutters, avoiding the brin ing of a strain upon the tracks and the ten ency to turn the shield. Upon the motor-shaft is a pinion 49, meshing with a rrear 50 upon a counter-shaft 51, which extends through the shield at one side of the boring-shaft, conveniently'having .Y bearings in the piaates 16, The counter-shaft Aalso has fixed upon it a gear 51, which engages a large ear 52, which is splinedupon `the shaft so t at longitudinal movement of the latter is permitted, the gear itself bein held against such movement by a flangel collar 56', coperating with the forward berringblock 26. Inc uded in the gearing In these entering ing mechanism may be thrown into or out of operation.

Surrounding the rear end of the boringshaft between collars 54 54, carried thereby, is a feed-plate 55, having opposite extensions 56, lying between guides 57, which project outwardly from the rear plate 16. 'lhese guides may be stayed and strengtluned by a cross-brace 5S, connecting them, and by iuclined braces`59, which extend to the diagonal frame members. Surrounding.r the boringshaft adjacent .to the rear plate 16 is a bearinglate 60,. which holds against movement in tiis direction a vgear-ring 61, maintained against outward displacement by a yoke 62, 4fixed to the bearing-plate. This Agear-ring is provided with internal and external teeth, the former meshing with what is here illustrated as four pinions 63, each of which has at its center a threaded opening to receive threaded rods or screws 64, movable at their inner ends through the yoke and' bearingplate and fixed at their outer extremities to the feedlate. Journaled in a frame 65, supporter by the oke, and in a frame 66,

-ixed to the feedate and surrounding the outer end of the s aft 46 t, where it extends rearwardly beyond the boring-shaft, is a counter feed-shaft 67, driven'by a chain 68, passing over sprocket-wheels 6i) 65'), secured to it and to the maincounter-shaft 51 Within the frame 65 about the shaft 67 are oppositely-situated and normally loose bevelgears and 71, with both of which meshes a bevel-pinion 72, rotatably mounted in the upper portion of the frame. Eitherofthese gears 70 and 71 may be caused to rotate with the shaft vby a friction-clutch 7 3, splined upon and movable along it. Carried by the bevelvgear 7() is a spur-gear 74, meshinir with the external. teeth of the ring 61. Vhen the the counter feed-shaft will turn idly in the lOO bevel-gears; but if it is in engagement with one of said gears the spur-gear 74 will be turned in one direction-or the other, rotating the gear-ring, which in turn will rotate the pinions 63, causing` them to move the thread- `ed rods longitudinally, and thus advance or retract the feed-plate and similarly move the boring-shaft to bringr the cutters into cngagement with the surface operated upon4 or to withdraw them.

Upon a projecting portion of the shaft 46 Within the frame 66 are loosely mounted opposed bevel-gears'u 67a, with which meshes an intermediate bevel-gear 68, fixed upon a vertical shaft 69, journaled' in the frame. This shaft 69a has secured upon its upper end a bevel-gear 70, Veangaging a simili r gear 7lIl upon the shaft 67. A friction-clutch 72 may be brought into engagement with either of the gears 67, causing the feed-shaft 46L1 tol cent to the controlling mechanism, so that y the drum at their forwardextreme of moveconveyer-chains coact described. Extending froinpoints at the rear cover the space between the tracks 11.

tained against lateral displacement by posts sition, so thatthey effectively contactv with rotate either right or left handedly. rlhis, l acting through thegearnig 1n the head of lhe l shield to points in proximity to the center. l'-

or within the range of the cutter 89. Mounted upon the rear portion of the irameadjathe clutch-levers may he readily reached therefrom, is a platform '7:5 for the support At t 1e bottom of the shield between the tracks 11 11 are preferably toothed parallel tracks 74l 74, upon which is supported a frame 75, having toothed wheels 76, meshing with the track-teeth. Withthese wheels are associated ratchet mechanisn'i 77 to effect their rotation to advance. and withdraw this frame in the same manner as those connected with the boring-frame hereinbefore of this frame 75 forwardly is a downwardlyinclined table 78, having at its outer extremity an apron 79, which conforms in curvature to the shield and may substantially From the rear of the table rise opposite slotted standards 80, in which is journaled a shaft 81. 'About this shaft may swing side bars 82 82,'whichl may have longitudinal slots through-which the shaft extends. A bearing-plate 82 also surrounds the shaft at each side bar, these straddling the ends of the bars and having ad' screws 82h contacting therewith;

ties by a shaft 83,1journal`ed in them and re- 84, extending upwardly from thetable near the apron portion. Upon the shaft 81 between the standards is a pair of sprocketwheels 85 85,' over which pass endless members or chains 86, supported at their forward ends by a grooved drum 8 7, fixed upon the shaft 83. U on alined links of these chains are. secured lights 88, separated at suitable intervals and running over the table between side walls 89. Eachflight is preferably connected by links or stays 91 with chain-links in advance of those to -which they are 'secured. This causes the flights as they turn ment'to be brought quickly to a vertical pothe apron to move over it and up the table material which yhas been deposited thereon by Ythe cutters. With'the under runs of the pulleys v92, carried by a shaft 93, journaled in brackets 94. These brackets are preferably slotted at 95 and ,attached by bolts 96 to the outer faces of the side bars, this arrangement permitting a movement of the pulleys to bring the flights into the v)roper relation with the table. The

'l bars are connected at their forward extremi` pivoting of the conveyer side bars causes the flights upon these lower runs toA operate always in close proximity to the apron and table, and by turning the screws ("2" the ten sion of the chains may be varied independentlyof the pulleys 92.

Upon the shaft 81 is secured a sprocketvwheel 97, which is surrounded by a frame 98,'

comprising side members 99 99, which may be connected by cross-bars. This frame is pivoted upon the end of the shaft, and in its .outer extremity. is journaled a shaft 100, which has movable about it a frame 101, similar to the companion frame. end of the frame 101 is pivoted upon a shaft 102, rotatable in a vframe 103, carriedv upon the counter-shaft 51. The sprocket-wheel 97 is connected to a s rocket-wheel 104, fast upon the shaft 100, by a chain 105. This shaft also has fixed uponit a sprocketwheel 106, both of these wheels being rotatable between the separated elements' of the pivoted frames. Over the sprocket-wheel 106 and a sprocket-wheel 108, secured upon the shaft 102, passes a chain 107. This shaft `is connected by bevel-gearing 109 with the ,counter-shaft, this chain of to transmit movement to the conveyer and gearing serving thev pivoted frames allowing this to ,be effected in all positions of the conveyer-ta-ble without interfering with the o eration. A friction-clutch 110 may be inc uded in this gearing to allow the conveyer to be thrown into and out of action.

The forward end of the shield is applied to the faceto be operated upon in the usual manner and the lboring-frame advanced along its tracks 'by the ratchet mechanism until the cutters of the boring-bar are in contact with the face in the inmost position of the head. The conveyer mechanism is also' similarly positioned with its apron beneath the cutters. To prevent the material vthrown The outer lOO upon this apron from falling upon the lower tracks and lodging, shields 111 may be applied .to the tracks, these having flanges 112 engagingwthe tracks. The lower ends of the shields overlap the apron and direct material upon it;v The motor-clutch and the con-- veyer-clutch being inthev proper position to transmit power to the boring mechanism and conveyer mechanism," the clutches '73. and 7la are thrown in' to produce a ,forward feed ofthe boring-shaft and a. transverse feed of `the boring-bar in .one-direction, this one of the cutters to be moved, for example, from the periphery ofv the shield toward the center, while its compapion travels from the center toward the opposite side ofthe periph/ery, removingl spiral portions of the material and o erating" over the entire face within the shieldexcept at the center, 'where the vcutter 39 acts." After the bar has reached its extreme of movement in this directionthe clutch 72%v is moyed comzact causing which engages the external teeth, and a clutch which may coact with either of said gears.

13. The combination With a shield, of a boring-shaft rotatable therein, a bar mov- 'able transversely of the boring-shaft, and

cutters mounted upon the bar and being separated by a distance greater than the radius of/the shield. Y i

.4. The combination with a shield, of a" boring-shaft -rotatable theren,.'a bar movable transversely oi' the boring-shaft, cutters mounted upon the bar and being separated by a distance greater than the radius of the 1 shield, and an intermediate cutter rotatable boring-framev supported therein and comprising inclined members converging toward a point at one side of the center of the shield,

and conveying mechanism carried in the space between the inclined members.

17. The combination with a shield, of a movable boring-frame supported therein, an

independently-movable frame situated Within the shield, and conveying mechanism carried by the last-named frame.

18. The combination with a shield, of tracks extending longitudinally thereof, a boring-frame movable u on the tracks, tracks situated between tiiose irst named, and a conveying-frame movable upon these intermediate tracks.

19. The combination with a shield, of a frame. comprising separated generally X- shaped portions, a bor'ngshaft journaled near the intersections of the X-shaped portions, bars extending from the frame at one side of the shaft, and a motor supported upon the bars. I

20. The combination with a shield, of a movable boring-frame and a movable carrierframe situated therein, -ashaft journaled in each of the frames, a frame pivoted upon each of the shafts'and to one another, and.

gearing carried by the shafts and connected frames.

In testimony -whereof- I have signedvmy name to this specification in the presence oi' two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK A. MOFFITT. 'Witnessesz SIGNA FELTsKoG, H. G. BATCHELOR. 

